Posted By Rich Bryant on June 9, 2010

For a long time I had considered physical fitness to be the fundamental foundation of disaster preparedness.  After all, without an appropriate level of fitness one may very well not be capable of surviving the demands of a disaster situation.  Recently, however, I’ve become aware of a second element of  preparedness that is every bit as fundamental and critical.  That element is community.

After all, even the most fit Olympic athlete must sleep occasionally.  And during that time he/she is quite vulnerable. Additionally, a single individual often cannot guard multiple locations simultaneously;  and often this, too, is critical for survival in a worst-case disaster.   So, I have come to believe community is as important and fundamental to surviving disaster scenarios as physical fitness.

What this means to the prepper is that there is a need to identify and secure an environment in which many like-minded individuals could work together to survive.  Such a community may be as small as a family, or as large as an entire town. However, as they say, there is “strength in numbers”, and so the larger the community the better.  Any such community will need rules that must be strictly enforced – these rules will effectively become the governing laws during the disaster. And, of course, there must be provisions for enforcing those rules.

So, it is incumbent on the prepper to:

• Maintain a physical fitness program
• Identify a community they can join or form in the event of a disaster
• Develop a list of basic rules that will govern the community

Category: Preparedness | 1 Comment »
Tags: Preparedness, survival

Posted By Rich Bryant on April 17, 2010

I actually started this blog for purposes of contributing political commentary about the news of the day, yet I find that in recent months I’ve been more heavily tilted towards posting thoughts on my exercise and fitness program.  I can’t seem to shake the thought in the back of my head that if I make myself more healthy then I actually have the ultimate “health care program”, so why should I be so concerned with the one being foisted on the nation by our inept leadership in Washington?

Well, of course that logic is flawed, because I’m going to be coerced into paying for the substandard national health care program that has been enacted.

Still, I’m not too concerned.  If the American People really want to tolerate this travesty, and the several other major disasters being contemplated by their leaders in DC, then more power to ‘em!  While the US – which is rapidly becoming the largest bedroom community in the history of the world – has grown weary of striving for excellence, there is an entire world out there that most certainly must be growing equally weary of the mediocrity of socialism.

Consequently I’ve added a new international business venue to my own business repertoire this week, and will probably be adding more going forward.

Category: Business 101, Current Events, Opinion | 2 Comments »
Tags: Business 101, politics

Posted By Rich Bryant on April 17, 2010

I’ve been ramping up my swimming workout a little gradually this season, and have made some nice changes as well.

Thus far I’ve done very little with the scuba fins (although I really need to change that in order to get proper exercise for the upper legs and hips).   Also, while last year a “lap” in the pool consisted of swimming  a backstroke (“oar stroke”, to be specific) for one pool length, and a conventional Australian crawl the next length, this year I’m swimming the more physical Australian crawl for both lengths.  Now that I’ve adapted I’m finding this much more enjoyable.

Also this year I’m interleaving weight training with the pool trips.  I got into the weight training habit during the Winter off season, and I’m just not going to let that go.  I must say, however, that if I had to give up one or the other (the pool or the weight room) I would be keeping the pool – those pool sessions just seem to yield almost magical benefits.

This past couple of weeks my oldest son has been accompanying me on my swimming workouts, which has added an entirely new and deeply rewarding dimension to the entire experience.  We probably communicate more and better chatting back and forth between laps than during the remainder of the day.  And of course having a swimming buddy can be just the nudge needed to hit the water on those occasional fence-sitting days.

Yesterday we visited a pool that is about 25% longer than our normal pool – just to experience some longer laps.  I had a little trepidation about taking on these longer laps (doubting my stamina), but I must say it was an altogether bully experience!  Those longer laps became almost meditative, and I found myself having more time to work on, and be aware of, my technique.

I’ll definitely be visiting this longer pool again in the future!

Category: Workout Diary | 1 Comment »
Tags: swimming, Workout Diary

Posted By Rich Bryant on March 30, 2010

Yesterday I was finally able to return to the pool and started off with an easy 20 laps and a little fin time.

One concern that had been troubling me greatly was the prospect of cramps in my calves.  Towards the end of last year I had experienced a ‘worst case’ cramp one day while swimming in the deep end of the pool, and the entire ‘near death’ experience had left me with some trepidation.

However, in recent weeks I have added toe-raises to my exercise regime at the gym, and this has done wonders for my confidence in not getting cramps.  When I started doing the toe-raises they had a tendency to induce cramps, however this tendency faded as I persisted with the exercise over a couple of weeks.  This tells me that the exercise should really help deal with the cramps, and yesterday I was able to swim with my confidence fully restored.

Going forward I will continue my weight-lifting regime while adding back in the swims.  So, my profile for this year will be radically altered from last year.  I’m confident that the results will be very positive.

Category: Workout Diary | 1 Comment »
Tags: swimming, Workout Diary

Posted By Rich Bryant on January 31, 2010

I’ve been remiss in my blogging of late. Attributable to a mix of economic considerations and a little self-doubt.

Update on the Fitness Program: Over these past several weeks while the water in the pool has been too cold for swimming I have managed to take up weight lifting at our local rec center. I’m finding this also quickly became a somewhat-addictive behavior, although I very much look forward to getting back to the pool.

Category: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Tags: diary, Workout Diary

Posted By Rich Bryant on December 10, 2009

Previously I have made note of a decided decrease in the temperature at the pool, and I must report that this is a trend that has continued in recent weeks.  However, through a graduated program of acclimation I have begun to restore my daily pool workout to some semblance of its former summertime glory.

I find that I’m having to recover from the disruption of ten days of Fall vacation probably as much as the reduction in temperatures.   Perhaps more insidious than these two exercise-disruptors, however, is the effect of daylight savings time coupled with the natural shortening of the days as we approach the end of year.  Somehow it’s more difficult to motivate oneself to swim in the cold water in the dark than in the light of day.

Excuses?  Perhaps, but good excuses none-the-less, and just additional factors which must be overcome.

So far this week I’ve not missed a day/night in the pool, getting in 20 laps on Monday, 30 laps on Tuesday and 40 laps last night.  My goal is to get in seven days of uninterrupted workouts this week, getting in at least 30 laps each day henceforth.

A couple of weeks ago I did experience a horrible cramp in my right calf while traversing the deep end of the pool, and I must say that this was one of those “near death” experiences that has caused me to change my pool habits a little.  Having experienced that feeling of cold, skeletal hands clutching my calf and dragging me towards oblivion I am in no way eager to repleat that experience.  As a result I:

• Went back into the water immediately the next day.  (I realized if I stopped now out of fear it would be permanent.)
• Started keeping a gallon jug of water with me during the day to stay better hydrated (I need to do better at this, as I’ve slipped on it a bit in recent days).
• Consume a little more banana (recommended to me by a master swimmer with whom I discussed swimmers’ cramps the other day.
• Start swimming closer to the side of the pool.

So, in summary I am finding that this time of year presents its challenges, but also provides great rewards.  The main reward is a sense of accomplishment and commitment.  Cold water quickly becomes tolerable, and even pleasant.  And the benefits continue, slowly, to accumulate.

Category: Workout Diary | 2 Comments »
Tags: cramps, swimming

Posted By Rich Bryant on November 10, 2009

Lately I’ve been wondering what type of future the current leadership in Washington is creating for us,  so I thought I would publish this little poll to allow visitors to vote for what well-known Hollywood movie best portrays that future.

Cast your vote!

[poll id="2"]

Category: Current Events, Opinion | Comments Off
Tags: movie, poll

Posted By Rich Bryant on November 7, 2009

Having recently returned from a 10-day swing from Tampa up through Florida and the state of Alabama into Tennessee, I was more than amazed at the change in climate along the way.  Gone were the long, warm, bright and sunny skies of Central Florida – replaced by brief days with nightly blasts of air that, to this Tampan, can only be described as ‘Arctic’.

While it was wonderful to connect with old friends and family, and take in a high school football game (played on a veritable frozen tundra of a gridiron), I must confess to a certain sense of relief when our vehicle once again began its southward plunge on the return trip to warm, tropical Tampa.

During that sojourn I found it impossible to maintain any semblance of a daily exercise program, and in fact found myself consuming “fast food” as though I were a teenager set loose with a hundred dollar bill (well, there was the odd salad).  So, on my return I was intent to immediately resume my daily exercise regime – and in particular my time spent swimming laps in the pool.

After a full 10-days during which 2200 miles was covered it was a bit surreal to drive through the old neighborhood again (I guess I’m not a very sophisticated traveler).  Having arrived in the early evening hours, I decided to postpone the resumption of my exercise until the following day.

The next day I did, indeed, get suited up and found my way to the pool.  The weather was not hot, but certainly not chilly, as I prepared to plunge into the clear, soothing and rehabilitating waters.  Quickly plunging in to commence my exercise I was more than stunned by the somehow greatly-reduced temperature of the water.  Indeed, my breath was taken away, and I felt that certainly I must have taken a wrong turn during the trip and ended up at the Bearing Strait(!)

Gone were the warm, balmy days of the proverbial “endless Summer” – replaced with a comparatively “blustery” Fall season that sucked every bit of warmth from the neighborhood pool.  Now I was faced with an icey plunge each day if I was to continue along my interrupted path to fitness.

Undaunted I pushed on and, once acclimated, was able to achieve a modest workout.

Since then the water has remained chilly, and each day has required a few minutes of acclimation.  However, now the mind is ready to confront the icy depths in the stubborn pursuit of health.  I yet persevere in with my resolution to swim around the calendar.

Let us see what the months to come will be serving up!

Category: Workout Diary | No Comments »
Tags: cold, swimming, vacation

Posted By Rich Bryant on October 24, 2009

Lately I have observed any number of our leftist US leaders denouncing the “evils of capitalism” and simultaneously suggesting that if we would just launder our money through the government that life would be so much better. Pardon my cynicism, but I can’t help but be just a little suspicious when the fox proposes to stand watch over the hen house(!)

Until last night these thoughts had been simmering more in my subconscious than they had been finding their way to my voice and keyboard. However, last night I happened to accompany my wife on a shopping trip to look for a new (and much-needed) dish washer,  and while standing there in the store considering the dish washers on display before us I experienced what I can only describe as an epiphany.

The catalyst for my catharsis was a combination of my astonishment at the wide range of choices in dish washers that our capitalist system had humbly laid out before me to consider. There were dish washers there from a variety of manufacturers and at a wide range of prices. Those occupying the higher price tiers offered more quiet operation, more control and maybe a little longer service life. All of this variety and affordability was a direct result of the economic competition that exists both between manufacturers and stores. It is quite obvious that they are all working very hard to please me, the consumer.

And, as I stood there contemplating this, a helpful and energetic young man employed by the store introduced himself and offered to help us to understand the various benefits offered to us by each product (some benefits would not have been so obvious without his assistance). Fortunately my wife was there to “talk shop” as I continued my own less pragmatic musings on the nature of our shared “capitalist experience”.

Those musings turned now to the young salesman himself, and how capitalist forces were at work to cause him to be supremely informed about the products he represented and, more importantly, to try hard to please both us and his employer. The result was not only a pleasant experience for us, but for this young man as well. I then considered that this young man was but one person in a virtually endless procession of people working diligently behind the scenes to ultimately present these dish washers to us for our consideration. I marveled at the realization that all this was taking place just so that manufacturers and stores would have some modest probability of selling us a dish washer for what seemed an amazingly low price for such an important household device.

Unlike politicians, the economic force of capitalism cannot help but work tirelessly behind the scenes 24×7 to provide us all with a wide range of choices for products and services to better our lives. Capitalist organizations are striving constantly to offer us better products at better prices – and to please us in any number of other ways.

It is to our own disadvantage (if not to our own peril) that we listen to those self-servicing political voices that would seek to stifle capitalism in order to detour the flow of money through their own money-grubbing hands.

Ask any Russian who happened to survive “communism”.

Category: Business 101, Current Events, Opinion | 3 Comments »
Tags: capitalism

Posted By Rich Bryant on October 9, 2009

Over the past few weeks I’ve begun to add some exercise to my program that extends outside the pool.  As noted in previous posts, I’ve begun doing sit-ups on a daily basis and have now, most recently, begun to visit the local rec center a couple of times each week for some weight lifting.

I started my weight lifting regime with some very light work and only working on the arms, shoulders and chest. The reason for this focus is because the sit-ups and my use of fins in the pool gives the lower body and abdomen a rigorous workout already (I still need to increase my number of sit-ups beyond 30 – but I’ll get there!).

After a couple of weeks of going to the rec center I’m already seeing some great benefits in the pool.  The extra strength in the arms and shoulders enables me to cut through the water with noticeably less effort, and it seems that the pool time required to get in a good workout has somehow been reduced as well.

The difficult job still remains ahead of me – which is to impose further controls on food intake.  Looking back over the years I can see some tremendous changes I’ve already made in this regard – so I know that this behavior modification is possible. I hope to be sharing here soon stories of the dietary battle – I think those will be the best stories of all.

(Thinking, maybe I need to revisit my own story, The Allegory of the Bedouin, for a little inspiration!

Category: Workout Diary | 2 Comments »
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